Maryland lawmakers approve bill to end parental rights for rapists

Posted: Thu 1:34 PM, Feb 08, 2018

MARYLAND. (KWCH) Maryland lawmakers approved a bill that lets rape victims impregnated during an attack end their assailants rights.

The Rape Survivor Family Protection Act was passed in both chambers of the state's general assembly last week. The bill allows a rape victim to terminate a rapist's parental rights, even if the attacker hasn't been convicted of the crime, as long as there is clear and convincing evidence of guilt.

"No rapist should be allowed to maintain parental rights and no victim should be forced to interact with her attacker," Hogan said during the address last week. "I commend you for finally passing the Rape Survivor Family Protection Act, and I will sign it into law the moment it reaches my desk," says Gov. Larry Hogan.

New Mexico, Wyoming, North Dakota, Minnesota, Mississippi and Alabama are states that still allow rapists to have parental rights.

Mississippi currently has a bill being considered that if passed would make it possible to take away those rights.

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